Creating a sense of community; intra and inter departmental communication; Breakdown of “Silos” within organizations; allows participants to openly speak about current issues within the team and organization.

Group Size:

5 – 500; participants are asked to work in their existing work teams i.e. Accounting is together in one team, Human Resources is together another team, Sales etc..

– Additional ideas for School Groups – split by grade level taught, split by curriculum taught, split by who reports to who – be creative!

– The important thing is that the teams are made of people that they work with and they all share similar tasks, supervisors, roles, responsibilities, and culture.

Time Frame:

60-120 minutes depending on group size and momentum of discussions.

Goals:

By giving the teams and participants an opportunity to think and speak about concerns and give accolades to each other a powerful bond is created. Additionally by illuminating topics within departments and the organization, teams can then brain storm and strengthen the team. Facilitating a “one team” atmosphere then empowering the participants to share information and techniques that are successful that may have never had the opportunity to be shared in an open forum.

Materials:

– Flip chart paper – enough for two sheets per functional work group

– A variety of magic markers

– Metaphor Cards; cards with images on them with no definitive meaning. These cards are a way for participants to discuss and determine the teams BRIGHT BLURRY BLIND areas.

* You can make your own cards using index cards and cutting out of images or they can be purchased – by most team building supply companies..

Briefing:

“We all know that within our small teams and within the organization there are several ideas and issues that seem obvious to us and not to anyone else. As a team it is important to create a culture of transparent and open communication of needs and requirements for our teams and individuals to be their most effective.

I ask that one representative from each team come and gather a small stack of the metaphor cards, two pieces of flip chart paper, and some markers then return to their team.

These metaphor cards are just images that will be used to aid your team in clarifying the areas that will be discussed. Metaphor cards have no right or wrong, good or bad, positive or negative meaning. The only meaning they have is what you and your team attach to them.

In a moment I am going to ask each small team to choose three metaphor cards with various meaning attached to them. The team must be in agreement of which three cards to use and what each card will symbolize for each small team.

– One Card is going to represent BRIGHT – Bright is an issue or topic that is out in the open, clearly evident to the team about the organization. Bright is common knowledge everyone knows that this is an area of concern for the team and the organization.

– The second card that represents BLURRY – Blurry is known and not spoken about enough, a subject that should become Brighter. Blurry is the undercurrent water cooler talk the area that the team feels in-secure about in reference to the organization and it’s status within the organization. Blurry is a topic or issue that if it was made brighter much of the “Gossip” would cease to exist and questions would be answered.

– The third card that represents what they feel is BLIND – Blind is not known, lacking from the system or that the team feels is kept from them. Blind issues or topics are ones that the team feels only they struggle with and no other team are aware of. If the Blind issues and topics became Brighter the organization would become transparent and create a paradigm shift towards excellence.”

The teams are asked to choose the three metaphor cards (one for BRIGHT, one for BLURRY, and one for BLIND) write these on flip chart paper and then present the BRIGHT BLURRY BLIND to the entire organizational and teams that are present for the activity.

Processing:

BRIGHT BLURRY BLIND is an initiative that can stir up some powerful emotions and discussions. Be prepared to be open to the team criticizing and touching on topics that create conflict. The way this initiative is ended can create some real growth and increase trust within the organization.

After each team has had the chance to present their BRIGHT BLURRY BLIND charts ask them to hang them on the walls. Give participants approximately 15-30 minutes (more time if necessary) to walk around and view the other team flip chart papers, allow for some unstructured speaking and question and answers sessions.

Following the unstructured viewing time call the participants back into their functional teams and ask them to gather by their flip chart papers. Some possible processing questions;

How were the metaphor cards chosen for the BRIGHT the BLURRY and the BLIND?

How effective was the group’s communication process?

In what ways were disagreements settled?

What was the easy part? What made it easy?

What was the challenging part? What challenges were faced?

Are there any common themes that we noticed amongst all the departments?

What BLURRY topics can we discuss right now to make BRIGHT?

Any surprises that were found amongst teams with the BLIND areas?

Are the areas that were BRIGHT to one team BRIGHT to all or other teams?

What are the causes of BRIGHT BLURRY BLIND topics within organizations?

How can we as a team minimize the BLIND areas?

What are going to do with this information?

* Possibly ending the day by creating a team of individuals who are responsible for addressing and developing a system to enhance transparency and communication within the organization. The team can use the information gathered for a starting point.

*** DO NOT LET THIS INFORMATION GO UNUSED!If you lead this team building activity and do nothing you will create an environment that is more hostile and subversive than before you began.

Variations:

– Try the activity without the metaphor cards, use plastic animals (sharks, camels, pigs, donkeys) Fruit (real or plastic) or no props just ask the questions.

– Have the participants paint the BRIGHT BLURRY BLIND on canvases using acrylic or latex paints. Then hang the artwork in a lobby, classroom, or office space.

The UAE business directory is truly a goldmine for online marketers, as it is a targeted list for direct marketing communication via email, SMS and/ or phone. This database is so well structured and so simple to use, that it will suit all your wants.

It will make it 100x easier for you to reach out to a large number of companies and individuals with just one click.

A comprehensive list of businesses and companies in the GCC, the Dubai Marketing Database includes all possible sectors, from automobile and fashion to engineering and tourism.

The email marketing databases are of different types:

Emirates wise firm database: So you can choose according to your preferred geographical location.

Sector wise UAE database: You can see companies only from your aimed sector in the UAE.

GCC sector wise database: You can see companies only from your aimed sector in the GCC.

Dubai Healthcare Directory: All hospital and clinic contact information is combined in this database.

UAE malls: All the malls from biggest to smallest are present in this list.

Nationality wise database: based on the nationality of the owner of the company. You can select according to your nationality so you don’t feel like a fish out of water in your workplace.

The information in the databases include:

Names of the companies/ people

HR email ID’s

Vacancy page URL

Registration page URL

Website URL, etc

How this database will help you:

For Candidates Searching For Jobs- it will give you a direct list of all the companies you want. This is time saving because the contact information is right in front of you.

Businesses can use it for marketing of products as well as services and gain clients.

Considering UAE has amongst the highest disposable incomes in the world, luxury products and services can be marketed to companies as well as individuals.

B2B (business-to-business) marketing is marketing of products to businesses or other companies for raw materials to use in the production of goods, for other general purposes like direct use, or for resale to the final consumers (wholesalers to retailers). Even services can be marketed to other businesses.

B2B marketing can be done by companies in the UAE to companies in the UAE or by companies in the other parts of the world to companies in the UAE.

B2C (business-to-consumer) marketing is done by companies dealing directly with the end user or consumer of the product or service.

Do you know what customers are saying about you? Do you know what your online ratings are? Have you ever responded to a review? If you answered "No" to any of those questions, then you need to manage your tattoo shop's reputation.

What is reputation management?

The simplest way to describe online reputation management is that you follow, research, and respond to reviews about you or your tattoo shop. In addition to responding and researching your reviews and current reputation, you also need to be proactive in encouraging positive reviews.

Why should we do reputation management?

You need to be in touch with what your customers are saying in order to have a positive overall view of your business. Monitoring reviews also gives you insight into potential problems that your shop is having on a consistent basis. It makes you aware of changes you may need to make in order to improve overall customer happiness. In addition to finding problems, you also need to encourage positive reviews and respond to negative reviews. Responding to both positive and negative reviews shows customers you are reliable and accountable for your actions.

How do we start reputation management?

A reputation management plan can be completed in three easy steps. By following these steps, you will have a good handle on how to create a positive view of your tattoo shop.

Step 1: Research

Go to Google and search for your tattoo shop. What comes up? Are there reviews? The top review sites include Yelp and Google maps / local or your Google+ page. In addition, reviews can be submitted on your Facebook page depending on your settings. Compile a full list of where you find reviews and an overview of your rating. Make note of any positive or negative highlights.

Step 2: Claiming and Responding

Most business listings that allow reviews also allow you to claim them and respond to reviews. Follow the instructions for each site and claim it as the owner. It's best to use a single email account created just for claiming business listings, as you often have to confirm via email. Keep track of logins in a secure file. Once you claim your listing you can then respond as the owner to reviews. Read more below on what to say in a review response.

Step 3: Monitoring and Encourage

Once you have done your research, claimed your listings, and responded to current reviews you can then monitor these pages for updates and encourage new reviews. Make a schedule that reminds you to check for new reviews, along with a list of review sites that you have. Depending on how busy you are, a schedule may be checking everywhere from one week to one month at a time.

You can encourage positive reviews by linking those pages – such as Yelp and Google – from your website or other social media. Let people know that if they enjoyed your service they can leave a review. Some shops offer discounts or gift cards for people who leave positive reviews. Adding testimonials to your website can also help your overall online appearance.

What should I say in response to a review?

First, make sure you are properly logged into an account so that it is allowing you to Respond as Owner. This will ensure that other readers will know that the owner was accountable for the review.

Positive Reviews: It's fairly easy to respond to a positive review online. Say a simple thank you, and that you hope they visit you again soon. You can bring more details about that person if you would like, such as "It was great to have you as a client!" Egypt "Your tattoo was really fun!"

Neutral Reviews: Sometimes people may have a neutral review or review that includes something negative. Thank them for their review, and apologize that it did not meet their total satisfaction.

Example: "We appreciate your review and are glad youave us feedback. We hope that next time we can make sure you are 100% happy with your visit. Please contact our shop if you have any questions or concerns."

Negative Reviews: These reviews can be the most difficult to respond to. People often review you when they have something bad to say. It's important to remain professional and never say something negative in your response.

A simple example is, "We are sorry that our service did not meet your expectations. We appreciate your review and will take note of your opinion. Please contact us if you have any other concerns."

Occidentally, you can add a specific note to make sure that you clear up a misunderstanding that can happen in a review. For example, let's say someone was upset because you did not want to do the tattoo that they bought in because the design would not make a good tattoo. Now image that they write a review saying, "Horrible! They refused to do my tattoo and I could not make them change their minds! They were so rude and turned me away!".

Your response can clarify information and be more personalized. However you never want to blame a client or be negative.

"We are sorry we were unable to do the tattoo from the artwork you welcomed in. Unfortunately your source material was not adequate enough for us to be comfortable transferring it to skin. We feel to give you the best possible result. Back in and we can discuss other options for your tattoo idea. "

The SEO market in the world has become extremely lucrative for small businesses that want to expand their reach and grab a wider audience. SEO companies offer unbeatable advantages because they offer reasonable rates and excellent brand management strategies. Cost-conscious small business owners can now access value for money advertising and marketing.

Here are the real benefits of opting for quality SEO solutions providers, if you want your small business to flourish:

SEO will help you to create faster, better and more intuitive websites for users. Search engine optimization is not only about high search engine rankings, but increased user reach as well. Following excellent on the page and off page optimization strategies will create many advantages for your small business.

#2 Strong prospect and lead generation become really easy

The main reason to have an official website in the first place is to expand and diversify your clients. Small businesses that grow always have web optimization that meets their needs. A web optimized site using SEO friendly content will get you more traffic and targeted visitors which then translates into more customers.

#3 Expand your company’s reach, explore new markets

Despite so many geographical barriers, SEO has made it possible to transcend boundaries, cultures, and nationalities while offering your products and services for sale. Web and SEO solutions have made it possible for the Internet to become a global marketplace. A successful SEO campaign can help you to access fresh markets and new economies. With social media channels and mobile-only marketplace booming thanks to rising smartphone sales, SEO has become the modern-day marketing must-have tool.

#4 Get better conversion rates

What makes an SEO friendly website a company asset? Fast speed, easy usability, and compatibility with mobile as well as tablet devices make such websites a real plus point for small businesses. What does this mean? Well, customers will find it easier to access your products and services leading to better conversions or visiting traffic ready to make purchases, which will then boost company growth and profits.

#5 Build brand awareness, get higher search engine rankings

A real advantage of ranking high on search engines is that creating a powerful brand story becomes easy. If your small business or startup is aiming for instant brand recognition, SEO can help in many ways. People will come to your site and trust your brand, thanks to SEO content that will inspire confidence through keyword, competitor and ranking analysis as well as strong lead generation and increased market visibility.

Having an SEO friendly website is the virtual calling card your small business needs to access large gains. Prosperity, better prospects, increased ROI, phenomenal sale volume- these are just some of the many positive milestones your small business can access through SEO.

In the world today, small businesses suffer from the lack of marketing their customers and sometimes its due to the insufficient amount of money they have to brand and advertise their business. Just to have a billboard of your company on a building you would need close to a million dollars for advertisement. I had the privilege of catching up with Ed Buss, a CEO of fresh filtered air Inc in the small town of Shawnee Oklahoma. Ed Buss and his wife started his company by the idea of his wife seeing an ad in the local newspaper about 21 years ago and thought it was a good idea so they decided to create Fresh Filtered air inc.

Ed Buss has and runs a small filter service business, he serves his business on a 2-week service plan, 2-4,6-8-10-12-week plan for his customers. His business isn’t a popular company but it does well for how small it is. Some of the challenges he faces with his filter company is in the social media marketing area. He doesn’t have a true website, his company isn’t on any social media sites like Twitter, Facebook, Instagram etc. he doesn’t have a strong way to connect with current or future customers, his business has been stringing simply from word to mouth over 21 years’ span. He also struggles with a company logo which I personally believe will help him establish a bigger customer base. By allowing his company to partake in the social media world it could improve his customer base drastically and help bring in more potential clients rather than going from door to door selling his service price by word to mouth.

Another challenge Ed Buss faces with his small business is field expenses, he has to make sure that when someone calls in for a service order that they are for sure going to go through with it due to gas and mileage on the trucks. Ed Buss’s filter service has two employee trucks and he does a great job making sure that all the services are around and done on the same route. Ed Buss says that his employees have a lot of window time and drive a little over 90,000 miles a year. As a small company that means that your customer base isn’t very big, so you want to make sure you have enough funds in your business to keep the trucks that carry out your business’s service orders in good shape.

There is an old joke about the technique to use when dining on an elephant. If you manage a business, supervise a group or team, you are probably dealing with an overwhelming and overflowing in-box, multiple projects, and a series of last-minute surprises and you’ve asked the question, “How do you eat an elephant?”

Everyone who manages any facet of a business or institution is faced with elephants. Elephants are the massive tasks and challenges we encounter, seemingly every day (or the astonishing number of tasks and details that somehow lands on your desk):

Delegate as many tasks as possible to people who have the skills and the time to do them correctly and on time (and if they are dealing with elephants themselves, help them by showing them this list). NOTE: create deadlines or you will have even more stuff on your list.

Develop a time-line – blend the time needed and the time allotted with checkpoints to insure adherence to the timetable.

Break the project into digestible, manageable, and tasty chunks.

Get started on task #1 and continue to move forward.

Revise and reprioritize the list as new tasks arrive

If you don’t take this methodical approach then every day is chaos, constantly behind and out of breath with a result that some tasks either don’t get done at all or they get finished in a sloppy, low-quality manner which means that they will show up on your desk again to be done or redone which means you’ve wasted the time and effort the first time which produces more chaos, more angst, more overwhelm. Better to get on with eating the elephant.

When the task is an elephant (and aren’t they all?) break that big guy into manageable parts that are focused towards a timely result. In other words, “One Bite at A Time!”